Transforming Outpatient Services Change Package - Getting patients on the right pathway through transforming Community Allied Health Professional (AHP) MSK services

This change package describes in detail the steps needed and how to plan for, adopt, implement and monitor effectiveness of AHP musculoskeletal pathways.


Transforming Outpatient Services

Primary drivers, Secondary drivers, Change concepts

Aims

  • Increasing trend in direct access to appropriate MSK clinician in the most appropriate setting
  • Reduce traditional consultant led 'NEW' outpatient clinic appointments by 5% by 2016

Rationale for change concept

  • 10% to 40% of new orthopaedic referrals don't need surgical opinion and of patients on a waiting list, between 5% and 15% do not want/ need surgery hence it is important that General Practitioners (GPs), orthopaedic services and AHP services work in unison to ensure that referrals are appropriately reviewed to ascertain which patients require acute hospital referral and those patients who could benefit from rapid access to more locally based community services.
  • People with MSK problems across Scotland will have easy access to a self-management resource and early appropriate advice and, if necessary, assessment by an efficient AHP service to get them started on the right pathway for their treatment first time.
  • Patient Focus: 'If I have a muscle or joint problem that is interfering with my life or my work I want to be able to access information about how I can help myself. If I need any assessment or intervention, I want this to happen in a timely manner and be by the most appropriate person'.

Change Package

  • Programme infrastructure Communication, Engagement and Leadership
  • Assess readiness, capture, communicate and enable the appropriate response to current state resource status and anticipated resource implications/requirements following AHP MSK Pathway implementation
  • Efficient Referral management - Information systems and processes
  • Enable and ensure reliable implementation of Musculoskeletal (MSK) Pathway Framework - (National Minimum Standard) pre- and post-referral considerations
  • Implementation of sustainable AHP led Clinical pathways
  • Efficient and Integrated Exit Route Service Solutions:
  • Monitor MSK minimum data standards to ensure and enable consistency of quality review demand and capacity management on an ongoing basis access
  • Ongoing communication and review

Resources

  • Improvement tools
  • Spread and sustainability tools
  • National access guidance/legislation
  • National MSK resources
  • Local NHS Board MSK resources
  • National MSK contacts
  • Local NHS Board MSK contacts

Contact

Email: Fiona Bernardis

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